Foreign secretary advice to LGBT fans.... Be respectful

[Chesterlestreet]

I gotta say, looking at social media it's alarming the number of europeans who just say "well, they're homophobic, but it's their country, we have to respect it".

They don't care about the matter itself, that's the underlying issue.

Another thing is that half of the "people" who reply in any longer Twitter thread are clearly bots or trolls. It's farcical at this point. People actually engage with the bots and trolls too - they don't seem to get it.

 

[sullydnl]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Sweet Square]

We don't know what he believes in, it could be that he's just a spineless shell who doesn't have the courage of his convictions. Ideally, they shouldn't have gone, but that's a huge sacrifice. Honestly, while it's easy for me to boycott as a fan whose country hasn't qualified, I'm not sure I'd be able to boycott it as a player, but there's no way I wouldn't make some acknowledgment of the wider issues. Like you say if he does wear it again it will warrant comment.

Maybe if it was a boycott of the tournament overall but just for the arm band, the sacrifice was a yellow card, something most footballers are willingly to get to stop a counter attack. They could even take the Keane line and just do it for one match, make Fifa booked them on the world stage for wearing a gay rights armband.


Tbh the standard of footballer we have today is incredibly shite. I’m someone who always hopes England loses every World Cup game 10 - 0 and even I feel embarrassed for their lack of commitment.

 

[Norman Brownbutter]

Slightly different in that Beckham has never mentioned any of the issues in Qatar to any serious extent.

Also Beckham is reported to have event between £10M and £150M to endorse Qatar. Plus he is a Worldwide star and icon. So that is barely comparable.

Neville I don't know much about. But don't recall him speaking out at all?

He said on Have I got News For You "it's better to go and highlight the issues than not go and say nothing.". And then got slaughter for it instantly, because he was still taking the Qatari money. To the best of my knowledge, he has done nothing to highlight the issues. But Im sure if Im wrong about that, someone will be up my arse any second with a little video to prove me wrong. And I will happily bend the knee.


It's kinda infuriating to see England taking the knee to support Black Lives Matter, but not have Kane wear an armband to support LGBT folks. Kinda makes it look like they dont support either and will only do whats easy for social media praise. No doubt as soon as they are all back it will be rainbow laces and flag shagging but we wont forget that when it really mattered, only Alex Scott had the balls to defy systemic bigotry.

 

[moses]

I get can it if it was a boycott of the tournament overall but just for the arm band, the sacrifice was a yellow card, something most footballers are willingly to get to stop a counter attack. They could even take the Keane line and just do it for one match, make Fifa booked them on the world stage for wearing a gay rights armband.


Tbh the standard of footballer we have today is incredibly shite. I’m someone who always hopes England loses every world game 10 - 0 and I feel embarrassed for their lack of commitment.

Yeah it sucks. Not just footballers either. Really depressing.

 

[do.ob]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

She's going one step further. Surprised she got in, but that American guy didn't. Maybe they didn't want the German broadcast missing its commentator

 

[sullydnl]

Just thinking, you could also have made the goalkeeper captain for the day and effectively reduced the competitive impact of the yellow card anyway. Unless he starts actively timewasting he's very unlikely to get a second yellow.

 

[Doracle]

Suggestion now (on Sky) seems to be that Kane (or one of the other captains) might also have been banned for a match had they worn the armband.

 

[Sweet Square]

Yeah it sucks. Not just footballers either. Really depressing.

Agree it’s really disgusting. They deserve all the shit that will hopefully get thrown their way in the next few days.

 

[hp88]

Suggestion now (on Sky) seems to be that Kane (or one of the other captains) might also have been banned for a match had they worn the armband.

Sounds like FIFA are making up the rules as they go along to please someone.

 

[TheGame]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Manncunian]

As a gay football fan, I have never found the sport so spineless and depressing as I have today. I’ve not been particularly excited about this World Cup for obvious reasons, but knowing some teams/players were going and sticking up for our community at least gave us something.

I hoped maybe one of the captains would have stood up for us regardless of FIFA’s abhorrent obsequiousness. But nope, nothing, nada, zilch. Feeling really represented right now.

But we must respect the host nation mustn’t we. How dare we not respect a culture that insists homosexuality is punishable. I don’t care what your reasons are, that is never an acceptable stance.

 

[sullydnl]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Dan_F]

He said on Have I got News For You "it's better to go and highlight the issues than not go and say nothing.". And then got slaughter for it instantly, because he was still taking the Qatari money. To the best of my knowledge, he has done nothing to highlight the issues. But Im sure if Im wrong about that, someone will be up my arse any second with a little video to prove me wrong. And I will happily bend the knee.


It's kinda infuriating to see England taking the knee to support Black Lives Matter, but not have Kane wear an armband to support LGBT folks. Kinda makes it look like they dont support either and will only do whats easy for social media praise. No doubt as soon as they are all back it will be rainbow laces and flag shagging but we wont forget that when it really mattered, only Alex Scott had the balls to defy systemic bigotry.

Well the players aren’t getting booked for kneeling for a start. The players are in a tough spot having initially committed to wearing them. Everyone’s anger should be directed at Fifa rather than the players. Not sure what Alex Scott has to do with this, she’s not going to end up suspended so it’s not the same thing.

 

[Pexbo]

Suggestion now (on Sky) seems to be that Kane (or one of the other captains) might also have been banned for a match had they worn the armband.

Oh wow he’s right not to make any sort of quantifiable sacrifice in protest for a cause he is such a great ambassador for.

God forbid he misses a game of football while making a stand for something he believes in. I’m sure he’s won the hearts and minds of the LGBTQ+ community he uses to raise his profile via virtue signalling. Because let’s be honest, it cannot be called anything other than virtue signalling if he drops them at the first moment things get uncomfortable for him.

 

[maniak]

Yes, there is a huge spotlight being shone on those of us 'enlightened' westerners who seem to tolerate homophobia. It must be quite depressing for the LGBT+ communities all over the world.

Absolutely, if I was lgbt I would really be wondering if those in my community who apparently support lgbt rights would actually do anything if those rights were taken away. It's depressing and a bit scary.

 

[hasanejaz88]

Simply put, a lot of countries are either in the same boat as Qatar on this issue, or are sitting on the fence, unbothered about it.

Or maybe they are footballers and are here to just play football?

People should criticize those countries that are backing out now because they've built a bunch of PR over this issue and at the first sign of trouble they've backed away, but to expect other countries who have never done this to suddenly come and take your side is unfair because they've never gotten into these things in the first place.

 

[moses]

Absolutely, if I was lgbt I would really be wondering if those in my community who apparently support lgbt rights would actually do anything if those rights were taken away. It's depressing and a bit scary.

The more this goes on the more I think the issue is that very few people give a shit about anything other than themselves. They may not activeky dislike the LGBT community, thought there are probably some who do, but they'd go to zero bother to help them. Or anyone maybe.

I've always been a bolshy prick and most people through my life have just ignored my arm waving. I'm well used to it and while it bothered younger me, I've learned people have all types og shit and distractions so I've learned not to judge their indifference but I'm almost 50 now and while people have walked past protests and strikes eyes down I've never encountered push back to protest like this, ever.

 

[Manncunian]

Says it all really. We really should have stood up for this issue instead of bowing to the pressure.

What kind of value is it to deny people basic human rights?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

 

[Abizzz]

Says it all really. We really should have stood up for this issue instead of bowing to the pressure.

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Some people truly do not understand the concept of earning respect. Then again how could one really expect it from people not needing to earn anything in life.

 

[moses]

Some people truly do not understand the concept of earning respect. Then again how could one really expect it from people not needing to earn anything in life.

When you have money you buy respect, and when you have power, people feign it.

 

[Semper Fudge]

Says it all really. We really should have stood up for this issue instead of bowing to the pressure.

What kind of value is it to deny people basic human rights?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

Honestly? feck Qatar.

 

[moses]

Says it all really. We really should have stood up for this issue instead of bowing to the pressure.

What kind of value is it to deny people basic human rights?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

They don't care. This particular 'sportswashing' exercise is not for us liberal European types. The rest of the world will love Qatar for this.

 

[mu4c_20le]

Says it all really. We really should have stood up for this issue instead of bowing to the pressure.

What kind of value is it to deny people basic human rights?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

all this fuss over a shirt.

Should've just apologized and said everyone is welcome, just as they promised.

 

[Abizzz]

When you have money you buy respect, and when you have power, people feign it.

Qataris currently finding out that it's not that easy

 

[Manncunian]

They don't care. This particular 'sportswashing' exercise is not for us liberal European types. The rest of the world will love Qatar for this.

Also seeing a lot of comparisons between the legality of alcohol consumption with that of homosexuality. As if they are remotely comparable. To say both should be respected due to differences in culture.

Denying people the right to consume alcohol and denying people the right to be themselves are nothing alike.

This World Cup is actually stoking up more division and hatred, which reminds me of Gary Neville’s comments on Have I Got News For You. How’s the media/players/pundits speaking up against Qatar’s human rights violations going Gary? I’d give it a solid 0/10 so far.

 

[hp88]

all this fuss over a shirt.

Should've just apologized and said everyone is welcome, just as they promised.

They did in the end, someone from FIFA apologised to him and said it was for his own safety.

 

[Maagge]

It's so strange to see a country ban clothes with rainbows. Farcical.

 

[do.ob]

I feel like "Snowflake" is either being used as a meme or one of the biggest intellectual tramp stamp of the internet.

 

[GreenFieldsGoldenBarley]

Yes I did and of a couple, heterosexual or homosexual suddenly started ahvingbsex I'd kick them out too

[/SPOILER][/QUOTE]

Do you think that's what gay people do?

A better analogy would be if someone came into your house and told you they were gay.

 

[tomaldinho1]

I feel like "Snowflake" is either being used as a meme or one of the biggest intellectual tramp stamp of the internet.

Genuinely just ignore anyone who posts that and isn’t being ironic.

 

[moses]

Also seeing a lot of comparisons between the legality of alcohol consumption with that of homosexuality. As if they are remotely comparable. To say both should be respected due to differences in culture.

Denying people the right to consume alcohol and denying people the right to be themselves are nothing alike.

This World Cup is actually stoking up more division and hatred, which reminds me of Gary Neville’s comments on Have I Got News For You. How’s the media/players/pundits speaking up against Qatar’s human rights violations going Gary? I’d give it a solid 0/10 so far.

Yeah for me the real issue as this rolls on is not that Qatar are not accepting of LGBT people but the fact that people here in the apparently equality obsessed and 'enlightened' lands won't stand up for them. The acceptance and welcoming we are so self congratulatory on seems increasingly paper thin but hopefully that's an incorrect hot take on my part.

For people to rush to abandon solidarity given the thinnest justification such as 'culture' is depressing.

 

[GreenFieldsGoldenBarley]

Tbf I've said that all along.

What I think has happened is that now it's every stick to beat Qatar with whether it's them or not.

Certainly with some folks I was initially replying to.

I also said I hate virtue signalling, if that is the right context here. I don't think FAs and footballers give a feck. I also think some of the posters don't either.

It's bandwagons or try and win an argument.

Yeah, people are gonna call out despotic regimes for being despotic. That's hardly bullying.

Qatar bribed their way to hosting this world cup in order to make people forget about their human rights record. I think it's important not to forget about that, and this is why lots of people keep talking about it - not out of some kind of irrational prejudice against Qatar.

 

[Rhyme Animal]

Says it all really. We really should have stood up for this issue instead of bowing to the pressure.

What kind of value is it to deny people basic human rights?

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

What a piece of fecking shit, seriously.

‘The westerners’… what the feck are these morons doing hosting a World Cup if they despise ‘Western values’ that much?

Why not just leave the Western world and commercial football alone if that’s the attitude!?

 

[Ramos]

Tweet

— Twitter API (@user) date

More confirmation of this story.

Literally banning the word "love". Quite symbolical.

 

[Bole Top]

Why not just leave the Western world and commercial football alone if that’s the attitude!?

because they obviously don't have to. they already made players and managers behave the way they want to and not a single one will have the balls to go against them, not even the biggest names. they will have the world cup under their rules, meaning their plan is working perfectly.

 

[moses]

because they obviously don't have to. they already made players and managers behave the way they want to and not single one will have the balls go against them, not even the biggest names. they will have the world cup under their rules, meaning their plan is working perfectly.

Yep.

 

[Rauður Djöfull]

Totally agree with Keane!

Cowards and really shitty statement, what a statement it would have been to go out there and play a fine fair game and perhaps win on a yellow all game long

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Women in Iran have been giving up their lives for something they believe in, but Harry Kane & co. can’t miss a football match.
Absolute fecking pussies, this was your catch to stand up and say a massive feck you to FIFA & show solidarity, but instead you choose to not give a shit. Sure there will be lots of lovely soundbites about caring later mind.

Spineless cnuts.

 

[BeforeKeanetherewasRobson]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-63710435

An ex-Wales footballer has described being asked to remove her "rainbow wall" bucket hat as she entered a World Cup stadium in Qatar.

The rainbow version of Welsh fan hats shows support for LGBT people.
Laura McAllister, a gay woman and past FIFA Council candidate, said she was told to remove her hat before the start of Wales' opener against the USA.

The World Cup organisers FIFA have been asked to comment.